But their head of youth development believes a challenge could be sustained next year if manager Arsene Wenger strengthens in the right places this summer.

Brady told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: “Olivier Giroud has done a marvellous job up there on his own this season and we lost Theo Walcott for a lot of the season, who was chipping in with a lot of goals, but I do think Olivier Giroud could do with a partner or somebody to give him a rest every now and again. You need two or three top class strikers if you’re going to win the title.

“A defensive midfield player and a central defender [are also needed]. So there will be maybe three players on the shopping list and I think the club have put themselves in a position to do business this season.